Biofile With Potito Starace

Potito Starace

Italy’s Potito Starace, who features at this week’s St. Petersburg Open, reveals his greatest sporting moment, why he loves playing tennis and who is favourite players to watch are in this biofile...

First Tennis Memory: "I had a club near my house and I started there. I was very young, seven years old."

Tennis Ambitions: "To win an ATP World Tour title. I haven't won a tournament, but I have played four finals. And to play a good Grand Slam, especially in Paris, because clay is my favourite surface."

Current Car: "Audi A5."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavour: "Chocolate...No, nutella!"

Greatest Sporting Moment: "I think it was when I played Roland Garros the first time (2004). I played a great tournament and I came from qualies. I qualified and I won two rounds (d. Tursunov and No. 10 Grosjean). And I had match point against [Marat] Safin. That was the first great tournament of my career."

Most Painful Moment: "I think the same tournament. When I lost with match point in the third round against Safin."

Funniest Players Encountered: "Novak Djokovic is fun. Rafa when he has his hair like this (in a ponytail) [smiles]."

Closest Tennis Friends: "I have a lot of friends in tennis, especially the Argentine or Spanish guys."

Best You Ever Felt On Court: "Maybe at Roland Garros, five years ago. I played great tennis. I played great tennis in Rome one year. I lost to [Nikolay] Davydenko 7-5 in the third round in 2007. I beat [Agustin] Calleri and [Juan Carlos] Ferrero. I was playing very good."

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: "Because I love tennis. When I was young, I was crazy about tennis. When I was six years old I started to play soccer. But I love tennis. I just love the sport."

Favourite Players To Watch: "I like [Andy] Murray. I think [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga is a great player. And [Novak] Djokovic; he is the best I think at the moment."

Personality Qualities Most Admired: "I would say fighters like [Rafael] Nadal and classy like [Roger] Federer. They are very fair players and are good examples."